Indian cricket team’s Toronto trip off, green signal for Aussie tri-series

TO COMPETE IN AUSTRALIAN TRI-SERIES: It meant that India would be competing in the one-daytriangular series featuring Pakistan to be staged in Australia this year end. India’s tour to Sharjah for a tri-series in March next, where South Africa and Pakistan are the other competing teams, has also been given the green signal by the government’s decision.

Lele, however, categorically said that no compensation can be demanded from the Board by the Toronto series event managers International Management Group (IMG). “Had it been due to any other reasons, they could have claimed damages but since the Government has denied permission they can’t do anything. Besides, there is a clause in the agreement which pertains to Government clearance,” he added.

DD PULLS OF A COUP: Another important decision taken by the BCCI working committee was to award the television rights for the next five years to Prasar Bharati, the country’s governing body on television (Doordarshan) and radio. “The Board has decided to grant TV rights to Prasar Bharti with immediate effect. The detailed agreement will beexecuted soon. The contract will be for five years,” Lele said adding, “it was an unanimous decision.” Though the Board officials refused to disclose the amount of the deal, it was reliably learnt that it was struck for $41 million.

The contract includes 27 days of live coverage per year of all international matches to be staged over a period of five years. Besides, 21 days of live coverage of domestice matches — finals of Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Wills Trophy, Irani Trophy and Challenger Series — is also on cards.

The clinching factor for Doordarshan which upstaged competitors Sony TV, Zee and ESPN-STAR Sports in bagging the terrestrial and satellite TV rights, was its wide network. “It was a totally transparent decision taken by the members as has been demanded by the press,” he said while adding that the marketing committee had also recommended the same after its meeting here yesterday. He said, “the basic requirement for the rights was direct telecasters and a minimum viewership of tenmillion homes. They (DD) have assured us world class production and uninterrupted coverage of the matches.”

The fresh contract for TV rights came up for grabs after the expiry of the board’s earlier contract with TransWorld International (TWI) recently.

TEAM CONTRACT RESTS WITH ITC: The contract with ITC Ltd for team sponsorship and the one-day domestic tournament has been renewed for the next three years. Pepsi and Mid-Day Group of Publications were the other bidders, Lele said.

AHMEDABAD TO HOST TEST: Meanwhile, Kanpur, Ahmedabad and Mohali have been chosen by the BCCI as venues for the three Test matches against New Zealand who are visiting the country later next month.

The five One-Day Internationals, which will follow the Test series, are to be held at Rajkot, Gwalior, Delhi, Guwahati and Hyderabad, Lele said.

The programmes and fixtures committee of the board, which met here on August 18, could not finalise the itinerary of the subsequent visit by South Africa in February-March,2000 as “negotiations were still on,” Lele said.

“We have agreed for a 34-day tour mutually,” Lele added.

Negotiations are on to whittle down the three-Test series into a two-Test one in order to accommodate five ODIs instead.

With a view to curb rowdism and disruptions, the board has decided to ban for one year the concerned host association in case of abandonment of a match due to crowd behaviour and for two years if such incident takes place twice in five years.

BOARD HQ TO REMAIN IN MUMBAI: Lele, emphatically stated that the Board’s headquarters in Mumbai as mentioned in the constitution. “There is no question of shifting it elsewhere,” he said, adding the BCCI was in receipt of a proposal from the Mumbai Cricket Association, who have offered their premises on rent. “We are examining their proposal,” he added.

The Board annual general body meeting will be held at Mumbai on September 21 and 22.

The itinerary for the New Zealand series

Sept 28: New Zealand team’sarrival.

October 1-3: vs India A at Pune.

Oct 6-8: vs Board President’s XI at Jodhpur.

Oct 11-15: 1st Test at Kanpur

Oct 18-20: vs Ranji champions Karnataka at Bangalore.

Oct 23-27: 2nd Test at Ahmedabad

Oct 30-November 3: 3rd Test at Mohali

Nov 6: 1st one-day international at Rajkot

Nov 9: 2nd ODI at Delhi

Nov 12: 3rd ODI at Gwalior.

Nov 15: 4th ODI at Guwahati.

Nov 18: 5th ODI Hyderabad.